Dirigible balloon



R. H. UPSON.

DIRIGIBLE BALLOON.

APPLICATION HLED NOV. 9,1916.

1 386 601. Patented A r. 13, 1920.

.1. A PH UPSOZDT, O33 AKRON, OHIG, ASSIGNOR TO ATEN T OFFICE.

THE GOODYEAR TIRE & RUBBER CGMPANY, 076 AKRON, SI-I10, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

DIRIGIBLE BALLOON.

Specification of Letters Patent.

, Patented Apr.13, 1920.

Application filed November 9, 1916. Serial No. 130,380.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, RALPH ll. Urso:v,a citizen of the United States, residing at Akron, in the county of Summit and State of Ohio, have invented new and useful improvements in Dirigible Balloons, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention relates broadly to dirigible balloons and is more particularly concerned with that class of dirigibles known as the rigid type, that is, those in which rigid longitudinal bracing is provided for the envelop.

As a principal object, this invention contemplates the provision of a dirigible balloon of this type which is fitted with a number of separate gas compartments, certain of which are provided with independent ballonnets; the whole system of separated compartments being devised with the intention of preventing undue localization of interior pressures at either end of the dirigible, no matter how'the latter may be momentarily tipped.

It is a further object of the invention to provide, in connection with the outer wall of the main envelop, an interior sheathing of collapsible sealing pockets, of such nature that this envelop is rendered practically puncture proof without the sacrifice of any of the flexibility or lightness of the ordinary envelop. f

It is a still further object of the. invention to construct a dirigible with a lohgitudinal envelop-bracing framework of such nature that all of the housing, cars on'compartments intended for the accommodation of the pilots, passengers, engines or fuel supplies may be incorporated into portions of the framework in such a manner that the longitudinal stream line of the balloon is not obstructed. It is a complemental portion of this object to so arrange the separate gas compartments of the main gas envelop with respect to the various housings, cars, and engine and fuel compartments that a symmetrical aspect and proportional distribution of the weights is obtained.

T he above and additional objects of a similar nature, which will be hereinafter more specifically treated, are preferably accomplished by such means as are illustrated in the accompanying drawing. described in the following specification, and then more particularly pointed out in the claims which are appended hereto and form a part of this application.

lVith reference to the drawing, wherein there has been illustrated a preferred embodiment of the invention as it is reduced to practice, and throughout the several views of which, similar reference numbers designate corresponding parts;

Figure l is a longitudinal, sectional view taken through the dirigible provided by this invention;

F ig. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken on the plane of the line 2-2"of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional detail of the collapsible sealing pockets forming an interior sheathing for the gas envelope; and

Fig. 4 is a rear elevational "iew of the balloon.

The dirigible comprehended by my present invention has been stated to be of the rigid type. This term is employed as covering the class of balloons having a stilfening framework which defines the gas envelop but does not necessarily inclose the entire envelop, as in the Zeppelin type of diriglble. The gas envelop is of dual formation in that it is longitudinally divided intotwo compartments by a fabric diaphragm which vertically connects portions of the longitudinal framework. Each of the longitudinal halves of the envelop is subdivided into a plurality of smaller gas compartments by means of transverse fabric diaphragms, which extend completely across their half of the balloon and form an obstruction to the flow of gas in thathalf. These smaller gas compart ments are provided with air. ballonnets which operate independently to provide a uniform distention of these smaller compartments. Incorporated into the lower portion of the longitl'rdinal framework of the dirigible are the engine rooms, the passenger cabins and the fuel tanks which are thus p0- sitioned to prevent destruction of the streamline configuration of the balloon and to effect a material reduction in the head resistance of the craft. The entire exterior wall of the balloon fabric is equipped with an interior sheathing of collapsible pockets which are normally in communication. A uncture of any of these pockets is automatically sealed to prevent dissipation of the gaseous contents of the balloon.

The longitudinal framework 10 of the craft is illustrated in Fig. 1 as being sub- 110' stantially elliptical in outline; although partaking of the stream-line configuration fore formed by the I to thetail of the craft; with and-aft to which it is desired that the body of the balloon shall conform. Preferably the'stiffening structure is composed of plate members 11 which are triangularly grouped in cross-section, as this style of reinforcing element is best adapted to be incorporated into the balloon form which I preferably employ, the latter beingsubstantia lly heartshaped. The lowermost portion of the framework 10, I have enlarged to a quadrangular form in cross-section at spaced intervals along its length in order to provide a fore engine compartment. 12, a passenger cabine L6, fuel compartments 14; and an aft engine room 15.

lates ll of the framework decreases both fore and aft from the amidship'portions of the dirigible, as a matter of design.-

The flexible envelop portions 16 inclosing the fluid of inflation arch away on each side from the upper portion of the framework and curve downwardly to a securement along the frameworks lower half. Thus, the bal loon envelop as an entirety is heart-shaped in cross section as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 4. The opposite longitudinal halves of this elongated heart are separated by the par tition 17 which vertically connects the upper and lower portions of the framework 10.

All of the exposed surface of the exterior fabric 16 is equipped with an interior sheathing of collapsible pockets 18 arranged in longitudinally extending series from the nose the pockets of adjacent series in the abutting relation illustrated which also arranges the pockets in conterminpus transverse series. The pockets 18 of each transverse series are in communication through the-medium of small valve holes 19 provided in their dividing walls 20. The wall 20 between each pair of adjacent pockets of a trarhsverse'series is bifurcated in the manner denoted by the numeral 21 to provide the back-walls 22 of the adjoining pockets. Each of these back walls is formed with a padded protuberance 23 which bears such relation to' the valve hole 19 that a collapse of the pocket which forces the back wall against the face wall 16 of each pocket, due to the pressure of the gas in the main compartment, will move the pad. over the valve hole and shut off all communication be tween the collapsed pocket and. the remain ing pockets of its transverse series.

Nm'mally these pockets 18 are filled simultaneously with gas to their proper limit of expansion and are kept by suitable gas pumps ata pressure in excess of that exist ing in the main compartments. Should the dirigible be subject to rifle fire it will be apparent that the projectile to damage the ii1- terior of the balloonmust pass through the The size of the triangle punctured pocket 18 from the others of it's a series butalso prevents the bullet holes from registering and so providinga path of escape for the contents of the main gas compartments, except, of course in the rare and single instance in which the projectile is directly perpendicular to the central axis of the pocket. These pockets in their normal icondition also serve to stiffen the envelop against lateral distortion.

. The interior of each half of the balloon is subdivided by a plurality of paired partitions 24 which may be symmetrically arranged between adjacent engine, cabin or fuel compartments provided in the lower framework portion. These separate gas compartments which have been lettered. G

in distinction to the main gas compartments lettered G extend between the central partitions l7 and the exterior fabric :covering 16 in such a manner as to form a complete obstruction of any flow of the gases-between the compartments G. Each of these obstructing compartments is provided with a ballonnet diaphragm 25 which defines an air compartment labeled B. Air inlet openings 26 are provided in communication with the exterior atmosphere and the ballon'n ets B to accomplish the usual automatic regulation of the gas pressures within the compartments G which similarly in their turn I adoption and gas compart- Any tendency toward the localization ofpressures, when the dirigible of my inven tion is tipped at either end, is split up and distributed by the obstructing gas compartments in such a manner as to avoid the creation of undue pressures. the further advantage of permitting the use of a less cumbersome means for maintain the balloon envelop to its proper limits 11.5 dlrigible when the craft is This system has I i tion by the construction of the envelop 16 to rudders and elevators 31.,

' tions of my Any suitable whereby I of distention,

assessor since the small ballonnet diaphragms 25 and the secondarily expansible" diaphragms 24 cooperate to thi's'end.

Those portions of the envelop 16 which normally extend to the bottom of the lower framework 10 ings for the ca in, engine a ments are so constructed as opposite the various housnd fuel compartto provide whatw may betermed laterally extending tunnels in the manner illustrated propellers 27 of the engine are mounted as gger frameworks 28 the lateral tunnels outri project through the extremities of which in Fig. 2. The

mentioned. The passenger cabin '13 is also provided with increased means of observaprovide these tunnels, and may, in addition be built with a employed upon the tail of transparent flooring. form of empennage may be the dirigible, as

for instance, the form here illustrated of fixed planes 29 wl1ich are grouped in pairs,

as shown in Fig. 4, and support the tri-forin Bumpers 32 of any suitable material may ,be emploved to support the engine compartments, the fuel compartments at a common level when the dirigible is at rest -upon order to lessen the strain portion of the framework.

ile in the foregoing the ground, in upon the lower I have thus described and illustrated the instrumentalities the objects .pre'viouslg to this invention, I e fact that I may resort propose the accomplishment of stated to be essential sire to emphasize the to such alterations in the matters of proportion and degree as shall appear to be desirable in balloon design, as the appended claims.

defined in What I claim is:

1. In a balloon, a framework including an later adaptathe latter is upper and a lower longitudinally extending member defining an clevational stream line for the balloon; and

gas containing envelops connecting said upper and lower members of the framework,

said envelops having a common longitudinally extending partition wall.

2. In a balloon, a longitu defining an balloon; and necting opposite portions 0 dinal framework elevational stream line for the gas containing envelops conf the framework members defining work; and envelop portions oppositely connecting the framework portions to provide a balloon having a heart-shaped cross-section of longitudinally distinct halves.

5. In a balloon, a framework comprising upper and lower longitudinally extending an elevational stream line, housings incorporated at intervals into one portion of said members; a gas envelop sup-' ported upon the framework; and separate gas compartments arranged within said envelop at intervals corresponding to those between sai'd housings.

6. In a balloon, a gas envelop and pockets forming a continum s sheathing for. the interior of the exposed portions of the envelop, said pockets being arranged in series communicable transversely of the balloon; means to prevent communication between a punctured pocket and the adjacent pockets of its series and means to collapse the punc- -tured pocket to seal the holes of the punc ture.

7. In a balloon, a gas envelop, pockets forming a continuous sheathing tor the interior of the exposed portions of the en velop, ports normally affording communication between the pockets, a nd means adapted to automatically close the ports. between any-given pocket and the immediately adjacent pockcts, immediately upon the puncturing of a wall of such given pocket.

In testimony name in the presence of two nesses.

subscribing wit- I RALPH H. UPSON. Witnesses B. J. MCDANEL, I1. E. Vlkonnni whereof I have signed my 

